We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ghost Fishing from Fishermen’s Perspective: A Case from Turkish Inland Fisheries
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed fishermen at Eğirdir Lake in Turkey to assess awareness of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), finding that an estimated 275,000 meters of set nets are lost annually, while over 82% of fishermen lack knowledge about ghost fishing and 92% do not consider it a significant problem.
In recent years, the ecosystem, already challenged by various anthropogenic pressures, has encountered a new threat in the form of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). To date, very few scientific studies have been conducted on the ALDFG problem in inland waters, which has mostly been investigated in marine aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, conducted to help address this deficiency, data were collected on the level of awareness among fishermen at Eğirdir Lake, an important inland fishery center in Türkiye, regarding ALDFG and the ghost fishing potential of the fishing gear they use. The data required for the study were obtained through face-to-face surveys conducted with fishermen during the 2016 fishing season. Questionnaires were used to identify the type and quantity of lost fishing gear, assess fishermen's awareness of ghost fishing, examine the status of lost fishing gear, and determine the causes of these losses. It was determined that fishermen in Eğirdir Lake lose an estimated 275,304.96 meters of set net (gillnet – trammel net) annually. The loss rate of set nets was estimated to be 11.32%. It has been determined that incidents of losing fishing gear occur in a large part of the lake. A significant majority of fishermen lack knowledge about ghost fishing (82.7%) and do not consider ghost fishing a significant problem (92.0%). Comprehensive training programs for fishermen and detailed scientific studies are needed to clearly reveal the extent of this threat.
More Papers Like This
Factors influence on the catch efficiency of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG): a case from Turkish inland fisheries
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated ghost fishing by abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear in Turkish inland waters, finding that crustaceans comprised 86% of bycatch and that soak time significantly affected fish catch rates. The study confirms that lost gear continues to threaten aquatic ecosystems, with impact varying by species composition, gear type, and net rigging technique.
Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) and the Perceptions of Vietnamese Fishers
AI summary Read the abstract
Vietnamese fishing boats lose over 80,000 kg of nets and gear into the ocean every year, with gillnets being the worst offenders — this "ghost gear" keeps trapping fish and other marine life long after it's abandoned, while also breaking down into plastic pollution that can work its way into seafood and, eventually, our diets. The study also found that fishers with more education and experience tend to worry more about this problem, suggesting that outreach and training programs could help reduce gear loss and protect both ocean health and the seafood supply chain.
Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded gillnets and trammel nets : Methods to estimate ghost fishing mortality, and the status of regional monitoring and management
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes methods to estimate ghost fishing mortality from abandoned, lost, or discarded (ALDFG) gillnets and trammel nets, and evaluates the status of regional monitoring and management programs worldwide. Researchers found significant gaps in data on gear loss rates, ghost fishing duration, and catch estimates, highlighting the need for standardized monitoring frameworks.
Lost Fishing Gear Generated by Artisanal Fishing Along the Moroccan Mediterranean Coast: Quantities and Causes of Loss
AI summary Read the abstract
A survey of 138 artisanal fishermen along Morocco's Mediterranean coast found that over 20,000 kg of fishing gear is lost annually — roughly 29% of all gear used — with net-gear accounting for the majority of losses and adverse weather as the primary cause. These findings help quantify the scale of ghost gear as a source of marine plastic pollution and support the case for improved gear tracking and maintenance protocols.
Is ghost fishing in Banderas Bay, Mexico, a problem? (Perception, causes, consequences, and knowledge)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study investigates whether abandoned and lost fishing gear—known as ghost gear—poses a meaningful ecological problem in Banderas Bay, Mexico. Researchers assessed the prevalence and impact of derelict gear on marine life and habitat in the region. The findings contribute to understanding the scale of ghost fishing as a source of ongoing, unintended marine mortality and plastic pollution in coastal Mexican waters.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.